Weed and insect burner



L. F. SOUTHER.

WEED AND INSECT!- BURNER. APPLICATION FILED No.11.

Patented May 9, 1922.

INVENTOR ouisE Se LQF. SOUTHER.

WEED AND INSECT BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. H. I920.

1,415,491. Patented May 9; 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Louis? 500M26 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

LEw'Is FREAMCN SOUTHER, or LARSON, NORTH DAKOTA.

WEED AND INSECT BURNER.

Application filed December 11, I920. Serial'No. 430,038;

To all whom it may concern.

Be it"k'no'wn that I, Ln wrs F. SOUTHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Larson, in the county'ofBurke and State of and useful Improvements in Weed and'Insect Burners, ofwhich the following is a specification,

This lnvention -relates"to improvements in weed and insect burners;

An important object of the invention 1s to provide an implement of this character which may be' either pushed or drawn as desired. "It will be obvious that when employing a device of this character for theburning of green weeds to destro'y the same before the seed pods thereof mature, andto likewise destroy grasshoppers and similar insects v g the flame bearing portion of the demos be positioned in advance? of the draft in order that the draft animals or tractor employed, S may not frighten the insects so as to 'cause' them to leavethe path of the'devi'ce.-v When, however, it is desired to burn dry weeds, it is necessary that the draft precede the 1mplement in order that the draft animals or tractor employed may not pass through the burning area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which ma be very cheaply constructed and which is comparatively long lived in order that the same may be commercially practical.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent throughout the course of the following description:

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a weed and insect burner constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view showing the mounting of the feed pipes upon the frame;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 1- 1 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a section on the hue 55 of Figure 1.

In the construction of my invention I preferably employ a bar of heavy angle Specification of Letters Patent.

reference being" had to theac supporting 'fwheel 'companying' drawlngs;

"13;. so that they infestin'g the pod, it is desirous that iron 10 which is centrally thereof extending forwardly at an angle to the bar provided approximately .10. The'forward-ends' of the bar 10 and the North Dakota, have lIIlVGIlfGCbCBI'tELlIl new auxiliary bar 11' are connected by a cross brace 12. "Iheforward ends of the bars 10 and: 11 are' each provided with. a steering S suitably connected,i a s at will move. in unison, These wheels are "likewise connected in the usual manner bycableslt to thest'eering wheel 15 d sposed-attire rear end of the bar 10' so that the wheels S may be turned to steer the devlce. The rear end of the. bar 10 is" supported by afcas'ter wheel 16; The bar 10 is and the point of attachment ofthe auxiliary baf'l l wit'h a 4 18 adapted-for the interchangeable reception at spaced points are plate 24 extending transversely of the forward end of the machine and forwardly. v from the forward ends of the arms 23. This plate if desired may be suitably braced by an angle iron member 25 extending longi- Patented May 9,1922.

with an attached bar 11' provided intermediate"thesteering wheel 15 may be attached to; 3 either push or draw the-device as desired:

eeu'red to the brace 12 and extending forwardly therefrom supports 21 upon-which-are pivota-lly mounttudinally of the rear edge thereof. Extending downwardly from 25 are hangers 26 in which are mounted the angle iron brace lengths of pipes 27, a pair of lengths being provided each equal to one-half the length of the plate 24 and having their adjacent ends closed. 7

Each of the pipes 27 is provided at spaced intervals with burning nozzles 28 preferably of the blow torch type directed rearwardly and downwardly. Each of the lengths of pipe 27 is provided beneath the burners 28 thereof' with a longitudinally extending trough 29 for the reception of fuel by means of which the burners. may be heated when starting the device. T0 the lower edge of the angle iron 25 is pivotally connected a drag plate 30 which drags upon the ground preventing the passage of insects therebeneath and necessitating the innozzle 28.

The arms 31 of the bell crank levers 22 have secured thereto flexible elements 32, preferably joined, asv at 33, and extending rearwardly and secured to an operating lever 3 1 which operates in conjunction with the segment 35. It will be obvious that the plate 2 1' and its associated element-s may be vertically adjusted and held in such vertical positions when desired. The rear end of the bar 10 has mounted thereon a tank 36 from which a feed pipe 37 extends forwardly and is provided preferably at the point of attachment of the auxiliary bar 11 with a Y fitting so that the feed conduit is divided into two branches. each of which is provided with a valve 38. The forward ends of the branches are connected by a flexible conduit, as at 39, with their respective lengths of pipe 27 It will be obvious that the fuel feed to either length of pipe may be discontinued when desired so that either one or both of the lengths may be utilized.

It will likewise be obvious, from the foregoing. that I have constructed a weed and insect burner which is extremely simple in its construction and operation and which, accordingly, may be extremely cheaply manufactured; and it will also be obvious that the construction of'the same as hereinbefore set forth is capable of some change without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention. 1, accordingly, do not limit myself to the specific structure hereinbefore set forth, except as limited by the subjoined claims.

That I claim is 1. A weed and insect destroyer comprising a deflector plate, an angle iron supporting member, said member having one flange thereof secured to the lower face of said plate, brackets depending from said flange, burner means carried by the brackets, a drag plate hinged to the lower portion of the re maining flange of said angle iron supporting member, and means for pivotally connecting said deflector plate to a support.

2. A weed and insect destroyer comprising a vehicle frame, arms carried by and projecting beyond one end of said frame, bell crank levers pivoted to said arms, means for actuating said bell crank levers, a deflector plate secured to one of the arms of each of the bell crank levcrs, a supporting member secured to the lower face of said plate adjacent one longitudinal edge of said plate, said supporting member including a flange depending at right angles to said supporting member, brackets depending from the supporting member substantially parallel to the flange of said member, burner means supported by said brackets, and a drag plate hingedly connected to the outer face of the flange, one longitudinal edge of said plate being adapted to engage the ground.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

LEWIS FREAMON SOUTHER. 

